Youth Services News

Newsletters are archived on the OLIS website.

New England Summer Summit is now scheduled for March 31st. Registration is open at https://olis-ri.libcal.com/calendar/olisce/summersummit23. The full schedule will be available soon. All sessions will be recorded and available for viewing in early April.

Have a replicable summer program, successful community partnership, or fresh resources to share? Please consider being a part of this year’s summer summit! Library staff providing summer services for any age group are invited to submit a brief proposal using the form below.

• Thanks to the RI DEM a new kit has been added to the Rhody Critter Kit collection. Pollinator Pals will facilitate programming to help kids learn about native pollinators and the conservation issues they face.You may request this kit at https://olis-ri.libcal.com/equipment/item/150065
  

• Unfortunately the 3Doodler Pen kit is unavailable at this time. We are working on resolving some issues with the pens and hope to have the kit ready for circulation soon. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.
  

OLIS will once again be offering mini-grants for supporting summer learning activities for youth and adults. The grant process will begin February 21 when a grant request form will be available for submission. The process will look a little different this year as we move to a new state grant management system, but we anticipate it will be much easier (no Google folders to manage!).

The basics of the mini-grant program will remain the same. Libraries offering a Summer Reading Program may request up to $600 for youth activities and up to $300 for adult activities. Library systems may request an additional $300 per location for youth activities. Approved expenditures made from the execution of the grant agreement through the end of the grant program are eligible for reimbursement. This program is limited to providing supplies, services, and educational presenters to support reading and learning activities.

This March join Becky Garrety from Beanstack for a refresher on using the online reading tracker for your summer reading program. Becky will highlight new additions for SRP 2023 and answer questions about preparing your summer challenges. If you haven't used Beanstack since last summer or are just looking to freshen up your Beanstack know-how, this session is for you! Two times/dates are being offered:

• March 1, 2pm-3pm Register
• March 14, 10:30am-11:30am Register
  

iREAD

In November instructions for downloading this year’s SRP Guide from iREAD was sent to the SRP contact at each library (in most cases the children's librarian/head of youth services). Please check with your SRP contact for download instructions. If you do not know your library's contact or if no one at your library received instructions, please contact Danielle at danielle.margarida@olis.ri.gov.

Also:

• In lieu of the voucher process, OLIS will be printing and distributing early literacy, children's, teen, and adult/all ages posters and bookmarks. If your library requested posters and bookmarks they will be distributed this spring via delivery.
  
• You can purchase additional iREAD materials at your own cost in the iREAD Store with the credentials your Summer Reading Contact creates when downloading the Guide.The next deadline for ordering from the store is March 1 (May 1 delivery).
  
• For more information on this year's program, you may view the iREAD State Partners Webinar Recording from this past November.

Thanks to everyone’s collaboration we have a very robust 2023 schedule of meetings focusing on a variety of topics. All meetings will be held in person with the option to join in via Zoom. Meetings will not be recorded to create a space in which participants feel comfortable speaking candidly with colleagues.

2023 CSRT Meeting Schedule

Register for CSRT Meetings

2023 YART Meeting Schedule

Register for YART Meetings

Date: Tuesday, April 25

Time: 9am-5pm

Location: Warwick Public Library

Register here

Two solar eclipses are coming to North America – an Annular Eclipse in 2023 and a Total Solar Eclipse in 2024 – and it’s time for public library staff to get ready! Join us for a solar science workshop led by STAR Net facilitators with many years of experience building the STEM capacity of public library staff.

Attendees will receive hands-on training on operating solar telescopes and other methods for direct and indirect solar viewing, best practices for developing and facilitating STEM programs, and how to engage with community partners and library-specific digital resource networks. This workshop will use materials from circulation kits that will be available to borrow through OLIS and highlight best practices in using those materials, but the strategies, activities and resources shared during the workshop will be useful to attendees whether they have access to a circulation kit or not.

Date: May 18, 2023

Time: 9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Location: RIDEM Division of Fish and Wildlife Outdoor Education Office, Exeter

Register here

Calling all children’s librarians: Join RIDEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife for a free and fun professional development workshop! The Division’s Wildlife Outreach staff will be introducing you to the Rhody Critter Kits, which are educational kits designed to connect children to the wildlife resources right in their own backyards and communities, as well as spread awareness about wildlife conservation work in the state. Rhody Critter Kits are easy to reserve through the OLIS Equipment Catalog. Each kit contains lesson plans, activities, videos, and hands-on learning materials. This workshop will cover some of the key topics from the kits and run through some of the activities. Be prepared to have fun while learning indoors and outdoors by wearing sturdy shoes that can get muddy and dressing for the fickle New England weather (bring extra layers and rain gear!). This workshop is free to attend, but registration is required. Please pack a lunch and snacks and come ready to have fun while learning with your peers!

Registration is now open for ConnectedLibFEST, the first ever connected learning event specifically focused on small and rural libraries. This virtual experience takes place on Wednesday and Thursday, March 15 and 16, from 1 PM to 5 PM Eastern. Each day brings together library staff, researchers, and community members to learn from and with each other about bringing Connected Learning to small and rural library settings. Small and rural libraries are already using the principles of connected learning in their work. They do this by building relationships with youth, community members, and stakeholders; fostering interests of teens through library services; and creating opportunities for academic and life success.

Learn more and register at https://web.cvent.com/event/b127a1d4-3295-4867-94f1-25fc4e791362/summary
Registration is free!

Saturday, April 1st from 10am - 3:30pm

The We Are ALL Readers Children's Book Festival celebrating diverse books, authors, and illustrators is returning for another year! This fun event features 11 picture book and middle grade authors, fun activities for the whole family, and food trucks! Event organizers include librarians from East Greenwich, North Kingstown, Exeter, Cranston, and West Warwick. Library programming guides for promoting the festival's featured authors can be found at www.weareallreaders.com

Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore is pleased to offer a free traveling exhibit for Rhode Island libraries. The exhibit is called Roving Roger and features a 7’ tall polychromed statue of Roger Williams accompanied by interpretive panels. To date, Roving Roger has visited 27 libraries from Woonsocket to Westerly and has been a hit with staff and patrons alike!

There is no cost to host the exhibit and all transportation will be handled by the RI Department of State. In addition, John McNiff from the Roger Williams National Memorial has offered free public programs at many participating libraries. (If you haven’t heard John speak, you’re in for a treat!) Finally, in addition to the statue and interpretive panels, the loan includes a life-size reproduction of the 1663 Royal Charter in protective sleeves.

Roving Roger is available beginning in May of 2023. Until then, you may see him at the Exeter Public Library until March 2, and then in the East Providence Public Library for the months of March and April.

For more information or to sign up to host Roving Roger, please contact Lane Sparkman at the RI Department of State. LSparkman@sos.ri.gov

Email: danielle.margarida@olis.ri.gov
Website: http://www.olis.ri.gov/
Location: 1 Capitol Hill Providence, RI 02908
Phone: 401-574-9309 401-400-3006
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olisri
Twitter: @olisri